A proposed rate increase for the Orleans Parish 911 center is also on the ballot.

The Orleans Parish Communication District, or OPCD, says it needs a rate increase to combat a rise in demand. It attributes the increasing demand to a rise in cellphone use.

OPCD said it would use money generated from a rate increase to consolidate.

Currently, a New Orleans Police Department worker receives 911 phone calls, then diverts them to New Orleans Fire Department or New Orleans EMS workers if necessary. The consolidation would move the workers so that they are all under the OPCD and trained to receive any type of emergency call, potentially eliminating a step in the 911 call process.

One of the more high-profile competitions is the attack-laden congressional race between Republican U.S. Reps. Charles Boustany and Jeff Landry, both seeking to represent southwest Louisiana and Acadiana in Congress.

The men were forced into the 3rd District when Louisiana lost a U.S. House seat after the latest federal census.

Also on the ballot is a runoff for an open seat representing the Baton Rouge area on the Louisiana Supreme Court.

Polls close at 8 p.m.

Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Coaches were more vocal and aggressive with players as training camp pushes ahead full steam. Players clashed with one another in several hard hits and tackles, indicating that ferocity was the name of the game.

The Obama administration will unveil a major climate change plan Monday aimed at a large reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the nation's coal-burning power plants, a senior administration official told CNN.